Internal Fighting Arts | Learn Real-world Martial Arts Insights From Top Instructors Of Tai Chi - Xingyi - Bagua And Qiqong

Ken Gullette talks with Steve Contes, a disciple of Grandmaster Zhu Tiancai, one of the "Four Tigers" of the Chen Village. Steve lives and teaches in the Tampa, Florida area. In this interview, Steve talks about his experience training in Chen Taiji, training with Zhu Tiancai, the relationship he has developed, and other people he has trained with. He tells an interesting story about touching hands with Grandmaster Feng Zhiqiang. Running time is around one hour and 31 minutes. Ken Gullette's website is www.internalfightingarts.com.

What is the secret of achieving enlightennment, awakening, nirvana? Are we sleep-walking through our lives? How do we become better people? Zen Buddhist monk Douglas A. Gentile, an ordained monk with the Five Mountain Zen Order who is also a professor at Iowa State University with a Ph.D. in child psychology, talks with Ken about philosophy, which has been an important part of martial arts for many centuries and an important part of Ken's life and arts. But how is it used in modern life, when so many people are wanting more and more, and yet so many people are unhappy? This is a podcast with messages that should be pondered. Running time is two hours. Ken also lists the Top 10 Chen Taiji Movements to Practice in the Hospital. Ken's website is www.internalfightingarts.com.  

Ken Gullette talks with Byron Jacobs, a teacher of Xingyiquan and Bagua Zhang who lives in Beijing. His teacher is Di Guoyong. This is a wide-ranging interview that touches on topics ranging from training in China to a book he is writing about the Xingyiquan classics, and they talk about training in Xingyiquan, including the "spirit" of Xingyi, how the spear influenced training in the fist postures, and the proper amount of time to stand daily in the SanTi stance, among other topics. Byron uses the name Mushin Martial Culture for his videos on YouTube and Patreon. You can study with him through Patreon. Ken lives in Illinois and teaches both in-person and through his website at www.internalfightingarts.com.  

Louis Martin is the author of "The True Believers," the story of how he became involved in a martial arts school in Monterey, California that had a charismatic teacher and a cult-like atmosphere. Ken Gullette talks with Louis in a wide-ranging discussion of critical thinking skills, what kind of people are lured into martial arts cults, and how you can tell if you are showing signs of being a "True Believer" (it is not a good thing to be). Louis trained for years in Seibukan, which is a combination of Japanese jujutsu and Aikido. He now trains in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Ken teaches Chen Taiji, Bagua Zhang and Xingyi Quan and has an online learning site at www.internalfightingarts.com. 

J. Justin Meehan is an attorney in St. Louis and the senior U.S. disciple of Master Zhang Xue Xin, who lives in San Francisco and is a disciple of the late Grandmaster Feng Zhiqiang. Sifu Justin, as his students call him, began studying Tai Chi Chuan in 1967. He also studied other arts, including Shaolin, Northern and Southern Praying Mantis, Hung Gar and Wing Tsun. In 1981, he met and trained with Feng Zhiqiang in China. Justin was the first person to teach the internal arts in St. Louis. He now teaches the Hunyuan style of Chen Taijiquan and Qigong. This is not as much an interview as it is a conversation between Ken and Justin, two guys who have been in the arts for more than a century between them. Now in his 70s, Justin mainly teaches private classes and workshops. His website is www.stltaiji.com.  Ken's website, offering video lessons and live classes, is at www.internalfightingarts.com. 

Ken Gullette talks Bagua Zhang with Dennis Mace, an instructor of Cheng style Bagua Zhang in Seattle, Washington and a disciple of the late Yang Guo Tai. Ken and Dennis met when Ken was 34 and Dennis was a teenager. Both were training in the internal arts in Omaha, Nebraska. They each went their own paths studying other traditional internal arts. In this interview, Dennis talks about his journey in the arts, including early training, meeting Yang Guo Tai, an interesting question, "What is the root of wude?" Dennis Mace's website is macemartialarts.com. 

John Scott is the Maryland State Representative for the Chen Pan Ling family and the Ling Yun Pai family. He is a successful instructor and tournament champion, with a school in Frederick, Maryland. John is completely devoted to the Chen Pan Ling Systems of martial and healing arts and is a senior disciple of Grandmaster Chen Yun Ching, Chen Pan Ling's son, and heir of the systems. John talks with Ken Gullette about his martial arts journey. His goal is to spread the true teachings of Shaolin, Chen Pan Ling Taiji Quan, Hsing-I, Ba-Gua, the health arts of Qigong and the Weapons arts that are contained in the vast curriculum of the Chen Pan Ling systems of martial arts. John Scott's website is www.chenpanlingworldfamilymaryland.com. 

Ken Gullette talks with Jakob Pang Isaksson, a Jiang style Bagua Zhang instructor who lives in Stockholm, Sweden. Jakob has spent a few years in China studying with several teachers, first traveling to Wudang Mountain and then, after some time passed, he found his Bagua teacher in Quzhou, a few hours southwest of Shanghai. Jakob studies with Li Jian Min. After winning a silver and bronze medal at the World Traditional Wushu Championships in Shiyan City, Jakob was selected to compete with the Guang Zhou University Professional Wushu Team. Ken talks with Jakob about all these experiences.

Stephen Jackowicz, Ph.D. has developed an early-stage anti-viral treatment for Covid-19 patients using Traditional Chinese Medicine, particularly herbal treatments. At the time of this interview, he has treated more than 90 people who tested positive for Covid-19. None of them have seen their symptoms deteriorate to the point where hospitalization was required. Ken Gullette talks with Dr. Jackowicz about his treatments and how they work in the early stages of the illness, at a time when most doctors are advising patients to "wait it out." Note: this is not a cure for COVID-19, but it is timely information as the world continues to battle this virus.

Ken Gullette talks Taiji with Nabil Ranne, an instructor in Berlin, Germany who is a disciple of Chen Yu. Nabil is the co-founder of the Chen Style Taijiquan Network Germany. He also has a Ph.D. in sports science. In this interview, Nabil talks about practicing Chen Style Taiji, understanding gongfu culture, differences between the Chen Village and Beijing lines of Chen Taiji, and training with Chen Yu. 

Chen Huixian is a 20th generation descendant of the Chen family. She grew up in Chenjiagou, the Chen Village, where Taijiquan is believed to have originated. Her ancestors include some of the greatest Taiji (Tai Chi) masters in history, including Chen Wangting, Chen Changxing, Chen Fake and Chen Zhaopi. She is an indoor disciple of her uncle, Chen Zhenglei. Other uncles include Chen Xiaowang and Chen Xiaoxing. Her father was Grandmaster Chen Chunlei. In this interview, Ken Gullette talks with Chen Huixian about growing up in the Chen Village, training in Chen Taiji and the challenges of moving to the United States when she had never visited the U.S. before. Huixian is married to Michael Chritton. They met when he was training in the Chen Village. She teaches in Overland Park, Kansas, outside of Kansas City. Her website is www.kctaiji.com. Ken is very happy to have Huixian as a guest on his 50th episode of the podcast -- the first Chen family member on the show.

Ken Gullette talks with Chen Taiji instructor Ronnie Yee of Vancouver, British Columbia. Ronnie has studied martial arts since 1980, when he enrolled in Li Chi Wai's school, and he has studied Chen Taiji since 1988. He has trained with Chen Zhonghua, Zhang Lianen, Liu Chengde and Li Enjiu. In this wide-ranging interview, Ronnie tells stories of training with the masters. Ken and Ronnie also "get under the hood" on some Taiji principles. In recent years, Ronnie has merged the art of the Mitzvah, which realigns, rebalances and exercises the body, with his Taiji.

Tina Zhang was born in China and lived in a home on the grounds of the Imperial Palace. She studied martial arts in school, and continued her studies in the United States after moving here as a student. In this interview, Tina talks with Ken Gullette about the internal arts and her thirst for learning, which led her to shoot, edit and write a great documentary, "Tai Chi Club," which is available for streaming on Prime Video. It is the story of Frank Allen's Wutang Physical Culture Association on the Lower East Side of New York City, and the story of Tina's journey. Tina teaches qigong, Northern Wu style Tai Chi Chuan and Cheng style Baguazhang. She is a disciple of Northern Wu style Grandmaster Li Bing Ci and Cheng style Baguazhang Grandmaster Liu Jing Ru.

Frank Allen is a disciple of Chent Style Baguazhang Grandmaster Liu Jingru and also a disciple of Northern Wu Style Taijiquan Grandmaster Li Bing Ci. Frank began studying martial arts in 1973 and is celebrating the 41st anniversary of his school on the lower east side of New York City, the Wu Tang Physical Culture Association. His website is www.wutangpca.com. He has written books with Tina Zhang, including "The Whirling Circles of Ba Gua Zhang" and "Classical Northern Wu Style Taijiquan." In this interview Frank talks about the early days of training in New York City, what it is like to study with Liu Jingru, and he gives a history lesson on the development of Taijiquan. Frank has also studied with B.P. Chan, Bruce Frantzis and others, and he provides colorful stories about them in this interview. Frank Allen, like most of Ken's guests, is truly dedicated to the internal martial arts.

This is a different kind of episode. Instead of an interview, Ken Gullette celebrates the one-year anniversary of sending out a weekly training tip to his students, website members and customers. After 52 weekly emails, Ken has gathered up a collection, including some of his favorites, and you will notice a theme that develops which can guide you on one of the most effective reasons to study the internal arts of Chinese kung-fu.

Mark Chen has written a valuable new book called "Chen Style Taijiquan Collected Masterworks: The History of a Martial Art." The book is a translation into English of some important documents that date back to the earliest days of Taijiquan. In this interview, Ken Gullette talks with Mark about the challenges of translating Chinese to English, and they explore the stories, legends and facts behind some of the Chen family's greatest masters, including Chen Wangting, Chen Changxing, and how Chen Zhaopi and Chen Fake went to Beijing and boosted the reputation of Chen Taiji as a martial art. Chen Zhaopi was born in 1893 and lived in the last generation when Taiji fighters would battle "bandits" (often revolutionaries) with swords. In the 21st Century, is Taiji more academic than it is practical? Is it still worth pursuing? Mark Chen is a formal rumen disciple of the late Grandmaster Chen Qingzhou.

Ken Gullette talks with Jon Nicklin, who lived several years in Shanghai and became a disciple of Dai Xueqi, who is a master of Song family Xingyiquan living in Shanghai. Jon has a wide range of experience in Chinese martial arts, beginning when he lived in London. He now lives in Hong Kong. Ken and Jon talk about his experience studying with a "traditional" Xingyi teacher, the culture shock of moving to Shanghai, and a series of videos that Jon is helping to develop that will shine a light on different Xingyi styles and teachers in China. Jon describes himself as a "hobbyist," but like all of Ken's guests, he is a dedicated martial artist.

Is your mind quiet enough to do Tai Chi? Ken Gullette interviews Michael Dorgan, a Hunyuan Taijiquan instuctor and owner of Hunyuan Martial Arts Academy of San Jose in California. Michael is a disciple of the late Grandmaster Feng Zhiqiang. He has also studied with Wong Jack Man, George Xu, Zhang Xue Xin, Feng Xiuqian and Chen Xiang. Michael was a correspondent for Knight Ridder newspapers stationed in Beijing in 1999 when he met Feng Zhiqiang. In 1980, Michael wrote the article about the Bruce Lee/Wong Jack Man fight that eventually sparked the movie "Birth of the Dragon." In this fascinating interview, Michael talks with Ken about training with Wong Jack Man, Michael's opinion about the fight, his training in Chen Hunyuan Taiji, and the importance of a quiet mind and a virtuous character if someone is to attain high-level skill in this art. Michael's website is www.taichisanjose.com. Ken Gullette's website is www.internalfightingarts.com.

Kim Ivy is a Chen Taiji and Qigong instructor and disciple of Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang. In part 1 of a 2-part interview, Kim talks with Ken Gullette about how she started in martial arts, training in Judo and Aikido in the US and Japan, and what finally attracted her to Chen Taiji after studying and teaching Yang style. She also talks about teaching Taiji to people with illnesses and disabilities.

Ken Gullette talks with Holly Sweeney-Hillman, a Senior-level instructor of Traditional Yang Family Tai Chi in Pottersville, New Jersey and the Center Director for the Bedford/Montclair Yang Family Tai Chi Center. Holly has studied with Yang Zhenduo and Yang Jun. In this interview, she talks about studying wih members of the Yang family, how Yang tai chi fit with her love of the science of body movement, and she talks a little about the Alexander Technique and a program she designed called Zentonics, which is used to correct posture and improve balance, supplenes, and increase serenity. Holly has a B.A. in Dance and a Master's in Orthopedic Biomechanics. Her website is www.taichistrong.com.